Sunday, November 25, 2018

Different Types of Fillings

Have you ever had to patch a hole in your home? What size
hole was it? And where? For smaller holes, a little putty or spackle
should do the trick. But for larger ones, well, you might have to patch
them up with a fresh sheet of drywall. Just as you might need different
types of materials to mend your walls, your dentist uses different types
of filling material to fill cavities in your teeth.
Most people are familiar with silver fillings. But some folks may think that these types of fillings are outdated or dangerous.

Let’s sort out the facts and introduce you to the cast of characters your dentist works with on a daily basis.

Amalgam

Those silver fillings are really an amalgam of different metals, including tin, silver, copper, and mercury.

Amalgam
is less expensive than other types of fillings and is extremely
durable. It is used to fill larger areas of decay as well as the teeth
that endure a greater degree of stress on a daily basis (your molars,
for example). Amalgam also hardens quickly, which can be useful for a
patient who may be unable to sit still for an extended period of time,
such as children and those with special needs.

Composite Resins

Also known as “tooth-colored” fillings,
composite resins are composed of a glass or quartz filler. They can
mirror the color, texture, and luminescence of your own teeth, making
them a great option for those of us concerned with maintaining a white
smile. They also help your natural tooth structure to remain intact and
bond more securely with your tooth than amalgam fillings do.

Composite
resins do have some drawbacks: they may create some mild sensitivity
for patients, and may stain with coffee, tea, or other foods and
beverages. Composite resins also may not last as long as amalgam.

Gold

The
gold standard in terms of durability is, well, gold fillings. Able to
last two decades or more, they are composed of gold, copper, and other
metals.

Gold is used in inlays and onlays,
as well as gold foil restorations. Most dentists these days do not
offer gold foil restorations because the technique requires highly
specialized training.

Ceramics
Most
commonly made of porcelain, ceramic is used in inlays and onlays. They
are tooth colored and more resistant to staining than composite.
However, they are more brittle and more expensive.

Glass Ionomer
This
is a filling material composed of acrylic and a component of glass
called fluoraluminosilicate (bonus points if you can pronounce that one
right!). One advantage of glass ionomer is that it releases fluoride
within the tooth, which can help prevent further tooth decay.

However,
glass ionomer is less durable than other fillings. For that reason,
dentists use it in baby teeth or smaller parts of teeth that aren’t used
for the heavy lifting of daily life (munching, crunching, etc.). Plus,
this type of filling does not match the color of your teeth as well as
composite resins.

Did You Ever Know There Were This Many Options?
When
it comes to patching tooth decay, your dentist will help you decide
your best filling or restorative options based on the severity and
location of tooth decay, as well as your budget.

There may be
only one type of filling that your dentist recommends for a particular
area of your tooth, but at least you’re more informed now about what
they’re recommending!

7 comments:

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